With the goal of forming a strong foundation for the statewide partnerships, on Oct. 25, 2017 Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary S. Franz named the inaugural members that are now serving on a new Forest Health Advisory Committee. The committee represents diverse interests and expertise spanning the forestry industry to conservation groups, forest collaboratives, to land managers and affected communities. It also includes representation from wildfire response organizations and those who protect wildlife habitat .

The formation of the Forest Health Advisory Committee was in response to legislation passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2017. For more information on the committee, see Washington State SB 5546, sponsored in 2017 by Senators Brad Hawkins (R) and Senator John McCoy (D).

Mission Statement

To advise the Commissioner of Public lands in the development and implementation of a framework designed to proactively and systematically address forest health issues facing the state. Specifically, the framework will endeavor to assess and treat one million acres of land across Washington’s forest landscapes by 2033.